Teachers stranded in Vietnam – former resident ‘one of the lucky ones’
South Africans stranded in Vietnam during Covid-19 pandemic: Former Vleikop resident who teaches there is considered 'one of the lucky ones'.
If you think it’s tough during lockdown in our country, spare a thought for your fellow South Africans working abroad and who are currently stranded more than 10 000km away …
Pieter van Jaarsveld, 40, a former Randfontein resident who lived in Vleikop since 1996, took up a teaching position in Vietnam in 2017.
In a letter he had written to the Herald dated 23 April 2020, Pieter spoke about the South African expat community in Vietnam, which had been hit hard by the closure of English language centres and schools in that country since January 2020.
Pieter said he has no desire to return to South Africa just yet, because he is one of the fortunate people who still has a job, albeit at half his normal salary, and had his visa extended through his employer.
Clearly, others are not so lucky …
Read an in-depth story and exclusive interview with Pieter in the Herald’s 8 May 2020 edition.
Touch Africa, a registered South African NPO based in Port Elizabeth, which has since formed a group called the South African Vietnam Educators Relief (SAVER) on Facebook to act as a vehicle for emotional and financial support, revealed that the teachers’ situation is dire, as there has been very little assistance from the centres that originally contracted them. Many of them lost the accommodation they had at the centres, and found themselves homeless. Many of them have run out of their savings, and have been trying to weather the storm for the past two and a half months. To date, two young people have committed suicide due to the pressure, and lack of assistance and funding.
Elise Fish of South Africa Vietnam Educators Relief (SAVER) Johannesburg explained that these teachers left South Africa to find employment.
The reality of their situation now is that they have not earned an income since January 2020 and have no idea when schools will be re-opening.
“They have utilised all their savings, and those families that could help have been sending money throughout the months. Without the support of the wider public, there is great fear that these teachers will shortly be on the street, without any support.”
Elise added that the most pressing need at present is funds to feed the most vulnerable of the teachers, and to get their visas extended.
If their visas are not extended, they will be deemed illegal aliens and run the risk of being jailed.
“With South Africa still in Level 5 lockdown and soon to go into Level 4, these teachers are still not able to return home, so keeping them safe and fed is a top priority,” she said.
At least two young people have taken their own lives due to the extreme stress, and feelings of hopelessness and abandonment to which they have been subjected.
“SAVER needs your help to prevent another life being lost,” Elise concluded.
SAVER is therefore appealing to the public to assist the fundraising drive by donating through the portal www.touchafrica.co.za. Also visit the SAVER Facebook page for more information. Also contact Elise on 076 170 6449 or via email at eliseraefish@gmail.com; or Charmaine Page (SAVER Vietnam) on 084 8 6697 6033 or at charmainepage03@gmail.com; or Mike Glover (Touch Africa Port Elizabeth) on 083 601 3287 or at mike@redcherry.co.za.
